Silent Night (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht), I would say that one of the most listened to Christmas carols by the Christian world. However, the world would never have known and heard this music so dear had it not been for a crisis that was presented at the last moment in a church in the small village of Oberndorf, Austria. The year was 1818.
Inside the Church of St. Nicholas the spirits were not very happy on that Christmas Eve morning. The priest Joseph Mohr had discovered that the organ of the church was badly damaged. No matter how he tried to inject air giving the pedals, the All he could do was a gasp of that ancient instrument scratched. No
mechanic to repair organs could reach the church before Christmas so the young pastor was in a dilemma. Christmas without music would be inconceivable and unacceptable.
Mohr had a natural talent for music. Being young, he earned money by singing, playing violin and guitar in public. Paid his way through college with money he earned as a musician. Their academic abilities and musical talents events attracted the attention of a clerk who persuaded Mohr to enter the seminary. Ordained as a priest in 1815, Mohr was assigned to Oberndorf in 1817. They not only preached it but stunned parishioners sometimes leading worship while strumming the guitar.
now facing a Christmas crisis. Mohr realized that the only music for the evening would be accompanied by guitar. He also knew that the traditional Christmas carols would not sound well with this instrument, so he decided to produce something new. Thinking
modest birth of Jesus many years in the past, Mohr began writing "Silent Night." Using simple words told the story of Christ's birth in six short stanzas.
For music, Mohr went to visit his friend Franz Gruber was a composer who trained him. Gruber was a master of Arnsdorf, a village that was close. Mohr and Gruber went to visit him in his modest home with his extended family in the high school where Mohr explained his dilemma. Handing
six stanzas, Mohr asked his friend if Gruber could compose music to be accompanied by guitar just in time for midnight mass. Gruber Historians say he was surprised by the innocence and beauty of words Mohr. He quickly began working in musical composition.
With barely time for a trial, the two agreed they would play Mohr his guitar and sing tenor while Gruber sing bass. The church choir would join in the chorus. As midnight approached, the congregation filled the Church of San Nicolás waiting to hear the organist play Christmas music. But it was not so and the church building was silent. Mohr explained that the church organ was broken but the midnight Mass would include a new music especially prepared for the congregation. Mohr then with pounding guitar, two voices were singing and the choir joined them on a four-part harmony.
Mohr continued the celebration of Mass at night. Without his experienced assistants organ memorable and unique service in that Christmas Eve. More
however, the story of "Silent Night" about that night is completed according to Mohr's kept in a drawer without thinking about reuse. After all was simply to fix a temporary problem.
Mohr was transferred to another parish and for several years, "Silent Night" was heard no more. Meanwhile, the organ at St. Nicholas continued to have problems. Indeed in 1825 the parish was forced to hire a master organ builder, Carl Mauracher, to reconstruct the instrument who discovered the music left behind by Mohr and Gruber.
The simplicity of the song impressed the organ builder and he asked permission of the leaders of the church to make copies of "Silent Night." Having received the permission, Mauracher Carol began to introduce musicians and audiences, and all were captivated by the piece. However, despite the fact that Carol was creating quite a stir and bustle across Europe, Gruber and Mohr were unaware of the joys that his music was causing.
Mohr died in poverty, of pneumonia in 1848 at age 55. Never knew that his song was spreading worldwide. Furthermore, Gruber first learned of the success of the song in 1854 when concertmaster for King Frederick William IV of Prussia began a search for the perpetrators. When Gruber, who was 67 then found out, sent a letter to Berlin saying the origin of the song.
Al pricipio few historians believe that two men from obscure villages could have written such a fine piece of music. That's when Gruber died in 1863 his authorship was disputed. However, doubts gradually ceased as historians confirmed that Gruber and Mohr were the real authors of one of the most famous and beloved Christmas carols, Silent Night.
Inside the Church of St. Nicholas the spirits were not very happy on that Christmas Eve morning. The priest Joseph Mohr had discovered that the organ of the church was badly damaged. No matter how he tried to inject air giving the pedals, the All he could do was a gasp of that ancient instrument scratched. No
mechanic to repair organs could reach the church before Christmas so the young pastor was in a dilemma. Christmas without music would be inconceivable and unacceptable.
Mohr had a natural talent for music. Being young, he earned money by singing, playing violin and guitar in public. Paid his way through college with money he earned as a musician. Their academic abilities and musical talents events attracted the attention of a clerk who persuaded Mohr to enter the seminary. Ordained as a priest in 1815, Mohr was assigned to Oberndorf in 1817. They not only preached it but stunned parishioners sometimes leading worship while strumming the guitar.
now facing a Christmas crisis. Mohr realized that the only music for the evening would be accompanied by guitar. He also knew that the traditional Christmas carols would not sound well with this instrument, so he decided to produce something new. Thinking
modest birth of Jesus many years in the past, Mohr began writing "Silent Night." Using simple words told the story of Christ's birth in six short stanzas.
For music, Mohr went to visit his friend Franz Gruber was a composer who trained him. Gruber was a master of Arnsdorf, a village that was close. Mohr and Gruber went to visit him in his modest home with his extended family in the high school where Mohr explained his dilemma. Handing
six stanzas, Mohr asked his friend if Gruber could compose music to be accompanied by guitar just in time for midnight mass. Gruber Historians say he was surprised by the innocence and beauty of words Mohr. He quickly began working in musical composition.
With barely time for a trial, the two agreed they would play Mohr his guitar and sing tenor while Gruber sing bass. The church choir would join in the chorus. As midnight approached, the congregation filled the Church of San Nicolás waiting to hear the organist play Christmas music. But it was not so and the church building was silent. Mohr explained that the church organ was broken but the midnight Mass would include a new music especially prepared for the congregation. Mohr then with pounding guitar, two voices were singing and the choir joined them on a four-part harmony.
Mohr continued the celebration of Mass at night. Without his experienced assistants organ memorable and unique service in that Christmas Eve. More
however, the story of "Silent Night" about that night is completed according to Mohr's kept in a drawer without thinking about reuse. After all was simply to fix a temporary problem.
Mohr was transferred to another parish and for several years, "Silent Night" was heard no more. Meanwhile, the organ at St. Nicholas continued to have problems. Indeed in 1825 the parish was forced to hire a master organ builder, Carl Mauracher, to reconstruct the instrument who discovered the music left behind by Mohr and Gruber.
The simplicity of the song impressed the organ builder and he asked permission of the leaders of the church to make copies of "Silent Night." Having received the permission, Mauracher Carol began to introduce musicians and audiences, and all were captivated by the piece. However, despite the fact that Carol was creating quite a stir and bustle across Europe, Gruber and Mohr were unaware of the joys that his music was causing.
Mohr died in poverty, of pneumonia in 1848 at age 55. Never knew that his song was spreading worldwide. Furthermore, Gruber first learned of the success of the song in 1854 when concertmaster for King Frederick William IV of Prussia began a search for the perpetrators. When Gruber, who was 67 then found out, sent a letter to Berlin saying the origin of the song.
Al pricipio few historians believe that two men from obscure villages could have written such a fine piece of music. That's when Gruber died in 1863 his authorship was disputed. However, doubts gradually ceased as historians confirmed that Gruber and Mohr were the real authors of one of the most famous and beloved Christmas carols, Silent Night.
VIDEO
